Mangifera indica Amiri
1909
Peering into the golden-orange flesh of an 'Amiri' mango, this illustration offers a juicy glimpse into early 20th-century botanical science. Drawn by Ellen Isham Schutt in 1909, the piece captures the fruit's vibrant color and large, fibrous seed with meticulous detail. The handwritten notes at the bottom tell a story of exploration, linking the fruit to the famous botanist David Fairchild and his work in Puerto Rico. These USDA watercolors served as vital records for American agriculture, helping farmers identify exotic varieties long before color photography became reliable.